PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION: PLANNING YOUR ARRIVAL IN THE U.S. AND STAY AT THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE

Transcription

1 PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION: PLANNING YOUR ARRIVAL IN THE U.S. AND STAY AT THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE TABLE OF CONTENTS Visa Information Applying for a Visa Schedule an Interview Interviewing at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate Getting Visa Approval Arriving in the U.S. Arriving in San Diego Transportation Driving in California Driving Directions to ALI Parking No Smoking Policy Housing Money & Expenses Banking Weather in San Diego Activities in San Diego New Student Orientation Registration Tuition Information Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Health Insurance Coverage Requirement Medical Requirement Immigration Requirement ALI Contact Information Map to American Language Institute (ALI) Pre-Arrival Checklist American Language Institute San Diego State University, San Diego, CA USA Tel: Fax: ali@mail.sdsu.edu

2 VISA INFORMATION The U.S. government requires that people who come to the U.S. with the intent to study full-time must have an F-1 student visa. After receiving your I-20 from the ALI, read it carefully and make sure all information is correct. Complete Number 11 on page 1 of the I- 20 form by printing your name, signing your name, and writing the date you received the I- 20. APPLYING FOR A VISA SEVIS Fee Students who are issued an I-20 on or after September 1, 2004, must pay US$100 SEVIS Fee prior to obtaining a visa appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate. This fee is different from the visa application fee and is paid separately. Students must pay the fee to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at least 3 business days before applying for a visa. The student or a third party such as a parent, sponsor or agent can pay the fee. The SEVIS fee can ONLY be paid by one of the following methods: 1) Internet 2) Western Union Quick Pay Service Print instructions from Complete Form I-901 Bring instructions and completed Form I-901 to a Western Union agent in your area. For a list of agents in your home country, visit Request and complete the Western Union Blue Form. For instructions about the Blue Form, visit u_fm_inter.htm NOTE: Payment through Western Union is processed immediately. At time of payment, you will receive a receipt. 3) Mail Go to Complete Form I-901, the "Fee Remittance for Certain F, J, and M Nonimmigrants" form. Include credit card payment for the US$100 SEVIS Fee. Visa, Mastercard, or American Express cards only. Enter student name exactly as it appears on the Form I-20 or Form DS Print copy of the online receipt for your records. Receipt is required to verify payment at embassy, consulate or port- immediately. At time of payment, receipts can be of-entry. NOTE: Payment by Internet is processed printed directly from the computer. Obtain Form I-901. The forms are available at or call (in the U.S.). Include check, international money order, or foreign draft (drawn on U.S. banks only) in the amount of US$100 made payable to " I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee ". Enter student name exactly as it appears on the Form I-20 or Form DS Mail the completed I-901 and payment to the address listed on the Form I-901. A Form I-797 Receipt Notice should be mailed to you within 3 days of processing the fee. NOTE: Mailing the SEVIS fee does NOT constitute payment. The fee is processed when it is received by DHS. If payment is mailed, it can take 4-6 weeks to be received and for a receipt to be mailed to you. We highly recommend that students pay the fee with a credit card via the Internet for faster processing. Paying by mail could take several weeks and may delay your visa processing and arrival in the U.S. For more information, please contact the ALI. Schedule an Interview To get an F-1 student visa, you must also have a face-to-face interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. Some embassies or consulates say students can apply for a F-1 student visa no more than 90 days before the program start date listed on the I-20. Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in your area and set an appointment after you receive a receipt for paying the SEVIS Fee.

3 For a list of the U.S. Embassies around the world please go to - and pick your country from the list. June, July, and August are the busiest months for most embassies. You must allow 4-6 weeks to get an appointment and then interview for an F-1 student visa. Please plan accordingly. Make sure you bring the following to the interview: I-20 form Valid passport Affidavit of financial support and bank statement from you or your sponsor I-901 form receipt showing payment of SEVIS fee If you have not finalized your housing arrangements prior to your visa interview, you will be asked to provide the name and address of a contact person at the ALI. Please provide the following information: Name: Mike Dietz, ALI Immigration/Admissions Advisor Address: American Language Institute, San Diego State University, 5250 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA Telephone: INTERVIEWING AT THE U.S. EMBASSY OR CONSULATE There are many factors to consider when getting approval for your F-1 student visa such as your financial resources, academic record, and the purpose of your program. But, in many cases, the most important factor is whether the U.S. consular officer believes that you will return to your home country after finishing your studies in the United States. You will only have 1-2 minutes to convince the consular officer that you should receive an F-1 student visa. Tips for the Visa Interview 1) Answer every question truthfully. 2) Listen carefully to the consular officer's question and answer the question directly. If you do not understand the question, ask the consular officer to repeat or explain it. 3) You must provide proof that you will return home after finishing your studies in the United States. The best proof is "strong ties" to your country. "Strong ties" include: Family (especially a spouse and children) you leave behind A job that you plan to return to after finishing your studies in the United States A business or company that you own Property or other financial assets in your home country A brother or sister who came to the U.S. before you as a student and then returned home Also, you can prepare reasons for: Why do you want to study in the U.S.? Why did you choose the ALI? Why is it important for you to study English? What is your career plan when you return home? If you are denied a visa, the consular officer will tell you the reason for your denial. You can return if you have additional evidence to support your case. Problems with Missing SEVIS Record When you go to the U.S. embassy or consulate for your visa interview, the consular official will check your SEVIS record in their computer system. Sometimes U.S. embassies and consular posts may have trouble viewing SEVIS records because of computer and/or database problems. Please contact the ALI immediately if you encounter this problem. We will forward your information to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They will resend your information to the U.S. State Department so the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country can access the information. It will take 3-4 business days for DHS to re-enter your information into SEVIS. Afterwards, you can return to the U.S. embassy or consulate for another visa interview. GETTING VISA APPROVAL When your visa is approved, a visa stamp is placed in your passport. You cannot enter the U.S. without a valid visa. The visa will show the expiration date and how many times you can enter the United States. The I-20 and passport

4 will be returned to you so you can enter the United States. Note: Once you receive the F-1 student visa, you can enter the United States no more than 30 days before the program start date listed on I-20. Transit visas (also called Direct Airside Transit) may be required if your flight connects through other countries between your country and the U.S. A transit visa may be required even if a traveler remains on the same aircraft in the same airport. Ask your travel agent or airline if you need transit visas. Arriving After Your Program Start Date In some cases, students may not be able to arrive by the program start date listed in Section #5 of the I-20. Please contact the ALI if you will be late for your program so we can assist you and update your records. This service is only available for flights scheduled to arrive in San Diego between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. daily. To use this service, students must arrive in San Diego. The ALI does not provide airport greeting service for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). To request this service, please contact ALI at ali@mail.sdsu.edu at least three days prior to your arrival. If your flight information changes before the day of your arrival, please contact the ALI at ali@mail.sdsu.edu. If there are any changes or delays in your flight on the day of your arrival, then you must call or NOTE: If you are staying in a homestay, your host family will pick you up from the airport. Please send your flight arrival information directly to your new host family at least one week before your arrival in San Diego. ARRIVING IN THE U.S. When you arrive at a U.S. airport (called your "port of entry"), you must: Show your passport, visa, bank statement, I-20 form, and I-901 form receipt showing SEVIS fee payment to the immigration officer. The I-20 will be processed and stamped in red with an F-1 D/S notation. This means your immigration status in the U.S. is F-1 and you may stay in the U.S. until you finish your studies otherwise known as Duration of Status (D/S). Get an I-94 card (called an Arrival/Departure Record). This form is stamped in red with an F-1 D/S notation and stapled to the inside of your passport. F-1 D/S means your immigration status in the U.S. is F-1 and you can stay in the U.S. until you finish your studies otherwise known as Duration of Status (D/S). ARRIVING IN SAN DIEGO Airport Greeting Service ALI provides an airport greeting service for $50. This service includes being met at the airport as you arrive and assistance with a shuttle to take you to your destination. Shuttle costs are included. TRANSPORTATION San Diego State University is approximately 13 miles (21 km) east of San Diego s Lindbergh Airport. You can come to the San Diego State University (SDSU) area by taxi or shuttle service. Costs: Taxi from airport to SDSU : $30 - $40 (plus $4 - $5 for a gratuity) Cloud 9 Shuttle Service from airport to SDSU : $20 (plus $2 - $3 for a gratuity) How to use Cloud 9 Shuttle 1) After arriving at the airport, go to the baggage claim area and pick up your baggage. 2) Go to the hotel courtesy phone board located in the baggage claim area. Dial the extension number for Cloud 9 listed there or call Say I want to go to the San Diego State University area and give them your exact address. 3) Cloud 9 will tell you to meet them at the loading area located outside of the airport. Cloud 9 shuttle vans are white. For more information or to make online reservations, please visit the Cloud 9 Web site at DRIVING IN CALIFORNIA If you intend to drive, as an international student or scholar,

5 you must get a California driver s license (at least an interim license) within 10 days of being in California. You will need to pass a written and a driving (behind-the-wheel) test. If you have a license from another country, you will be required to take a driving test. If you have a license from another state, the driving test can be waived. More information on how to get a driver s license will be available during New Student Orientation and in the ALI front lobby or can be found at DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO ALI Exit Interstate 8 at College Avenue Follow College Avenue south to Montezuma Road Turn right on Montezuma Road Turn right on Campanile Drive Turn left on Hardy Avenue ALI will be on your left. It is on the first floor of the Gateway Center building. For parking, proceed on Hardy Avenue to Parking Structure 5. It will be in front of you. Please see the map on the last page of this prearrival packet. PARKING Parking is strictly enforced on-campus. You must have a parking permit to park on-campus at all times including during orientation. If you park your car without a permit, you may be fined (ticketed). If you plan to drive to school, you can buy an SDSU parking permit. The permit costs $135 per semester. However, you will need an SDSU student ID first. You will get this during the first week of orientation. You can also buy an hourly permit at Parking Structure 5 at the corner of 55 th Street and Montezuma Road. It costs $1 an hour and you can buy a permit for up to 8 hours for the orientation. Buying a permit does not guarantee a parking space for you. Parking is on a first-come, firstserved basis and you should arrive early to find a parking space. The first weeks of class will be the busiest time, so come early. NO SMOKING POLICY There is a strict NO SMOKING policy on the SDSU campus. You cannot smoke within 20 feet of any SDSU or ALI building. Please make sure you follow this rule or you may be cited (asked to pay a fee) by the SDSU police. Smoking is allowed only in the designated sidewalk area near the ALI Classrooms. HOUSING Before arriving in San Diego, you should make your housing arrangements. Housing at University Towers and Piedra del Sol fills up quickly so please send your housing application to ALI as early as possible. For all housing, please send your housing application to ALI at least 2 weeks before your arrival or you may be charged a $50 late fee. Most students live in oncampus dormitories, on-campus apartments, or in a homestay. Some students want to live in off-campus apartments. The ALI does not provide these services. You will be responsible for arranging your own housing if you choose to live in offcampus apartments. For more information about housing, please contact the ALI Housing Coordinator at ali@mail.sdsu.edu or Temporary Housing In some cases, your housing may not be ready when you first arrive, so you may have to stay in a hotel or motel for one or two days. The ALI has special arrangements with: Howard Johnson Express Hotel 6440 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA, Tel: % discount for ALI students. Price includes continental breakfast. Please the manager jayphojo@aol.com to make a reservation. Be sure to include that you are an ALI student to receive the discount. Another inexpensive possibility when you first arrive in San Diego is Hostelling International in downtown San Diego. 521 Market Street San Diego, CA Tel: / For more options in temporary housing you can also visit

6 Homestay - Live with a local host family Cost: $150 placement fee + $650 per month with a $200 deposit paid by travelers check or cash Private room with 14 meals per week. housing_homestay.html There are differences in the types of homestays available. Some consist of renting a room in someone's house and possibly fixing your own meals; others involve being a part of the family and eating with the family. Please indicate your homestay option on the Homestay Application form, which is available on our website. On-Campus Dormitory - Live in the SDSU University Towers Cost: Varies Double room with meal plans. housing_campus_dorm.html On-Campus Apartments Live in the Piedra Del Sol Apartments Cost: $485-$970 per month Private or shared room in a furnished shared 2, 3, or 4-bedroom apartment with no meals. oncampus_apartments.html NOTE: Housing prices and options are subject to change without prior notification. Housing prices are usually updated in May. MONEY & EXPENSES You must have enough money to cover your initial expenses for ALI tuition, homestay or housing fees, health insurance, books, and personal expenses. Bank drafts normally take several weeks to clear, so you should arrive in the United States with traveler's checks, money orders, or a credit card. When you arrive in the U.S., plan to have at least $5,500. ALI fees, tuition, and homestay must be paid on the first day of registration. MONEY Do not carry large amounts of cash with you and do not leave large amounts of cash at home. It is not safe to do so in the United States. If you are going to stay in the U.S. for more than 4 weeks, it is important to have a checking account at your local bank. You may use cash, money orders or traveler s checks if you are going to be here for less than 4 weeks. Money orders can be purchased at the post office or convenience stores for a small fee. Checks, money orders, and traveler s checks are all safe to carry or leave at home in large amounts. BANKING It is very important to have a bank account (savings and checking) while you are staying in the U.S. This will be your main method of paying your bills, fees, and other expenses. It is very common for people to pay bills and other expenses using checks. For example, you must use checks to pay telephone or electric bills. They will not accept cash. This practice may be different from your home country. There are several banks located near the campus such as: Bank of America Citibank USE Credit Union Union Bank of California Washington Mutual Wells Fargo Bank To open a bank account in the U.S., you will need to bring your passport and I-20. For most banks, you must have a minimum deposit to open the account. More information about how to open a bank account will be available during New Student Orientation. WEATHER IN SAN DIEGO San Diego enjoys mild climate and moderate temperatures throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from a low of 57F (14C) in January to a high of 75F (24C) in June. The humidity is very low and the average rainfall is less than 9.8 inches (25 cm) each year.

7 For more information about the weather in San Diego, please visit the San Diego Convention and Vistors Bureau at then click on Visitor Info. ACTIVITIES IN SAN DIEGO ALI Student Life plans various trips and numerous activities throughout the year to give students an opportunity to practice English outside of the classroom. Tickets, fees, and other personal expenses are the responsibility of each student. Fees are usually paid in advance. Activities include Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Whale Watching, Outlet Shopping and more. Students can also visit Southern California tourist attractions such as Disneyland and Magic Mountain or participate in weekend trips to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and San Francisco. Please contact the ALI Student Life Coordinator for a current schedule of events and activities at ali@mail.sdsu.edu For more information about San Diego, please visit the ALI s San Diego Life information at NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION On the first day of your program, please come to the ALI Office. Refer to your welcome letter for the specific date and time of your New Student Orientation. During orientation week, you will: Take an English placement test to determine your skill level. This will help us place you in the appropriate classes. Take a tour of San Diego and the SDSU campus. Receive information about student ID cards, parking permits, health services, transportation, and banking in the area. Register and enroll in your program. REGISTRATION All students must register before they can begin their classes. Even if you prepay tuition and fees, you must register for your program. Registration will take place during the first days of the program. WHAT TO BRING TO REGISTRATION Passport I-20 I-94 (white card in your passport) Tuition payment Proof of health insurance coverage Address and telephone number in San Diego address TUITION INFORMATION All students must pay tuition before they can begin their classes. We can accept credit card (Visa or Mastercard only), cashier s check, money order, traveler s checks or cash. We do NOT accept personal checks. All checks should be made payable to SDSU Foundation. You can also send your tuition payment in advance from your home country. Please send payments at least two weeks before the program start date. We can receive advance tuition payments by: 1) Bank wire transfer Union Bank of California College Center Office San Diego, California USA Account Name: SDSU Research Foundation Account Number: Routing Number: NOTE: Please bring your bank receipt showing proof of wire transfer to Registration. 2) Cashier s check Make checks payable to SDSU Research Foundation and mail to: American Language Institute San Diego State University San Diego, CA USA 3) Credit Card For ALI to charge your credit card, you must submit the Credit Card Authorization form. It is available at Sponsored Students If you have a scholarship or will receive funding from a sponsoring agency, you must send a Letter of Financial Guarantee to ALI before the beginning of your program. This letter must be an original document from a U.S. branch office of the agency and must be addressed to the American Language Institute. The letter must

8 state that your sponsoring agency will cover all your tuition and fees during your stay in the United States. Payments can be made by cashier s check, money order, or credit card (Visa or Mastercard only). Please make checks payable to Wells Fargo of California Insurance Services, Inc.. FERPA Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. If you are a sponsored student and know that your sponsor will request grades or information from the ALI, you must complete a form at the ALI front desk. HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIREMENT All F-1 students must have adequate health insurance coverage during their stay in the United States. Those who come with non-f-1 student status are strongly advised to have adequate health insurance coverage as well. You will be asked to provide proof of coverage during the first day of registration. Your health insurance must: Be valid as long as you are enrolled at ALI. Include medical benefits that are at least $50,000 for accident coverage & $50,000 for sickness coverage with a co-payment of no more than 25% and a deductible of no more than $150. Include repatriation benefit that is at least $7,500. Include medical evacuation benefit that is at least $10,000. Provides equal benefits for men and women. Include prenatal (pregnancy) and maternity coverage at no extra cost. Pay for pre-existing conditions after 6 months of continuous coverage. Please bring proof of coverage and a copy of your policy with English translation if you have health insurance from your home country, the policy must cover the entire time you will study at ALI. MEDICAL REQUIREMENT If you will study at ALI for more than four weeks, you must provide proof that you are free from active tuberculosis. If you have not had a tuberculosis skin test or chest x-ray in the United States within the past year, then you must have a tuberculosis skin test when you arrive. The SDSU Health Services Center provides this test. There is no fee for ALI students. MEDICAL NEEDS ALI students can use the SDSU Student Health Services Center. They have general medicine and emergency treatment areas as well as an x- ray laboratory, physical therapy, preventative dentistry program and low cost pharmacy. They also offer nutrition counseling, travel consultation, immunizations and general health education. You can ask for more information during your stay at the ALI. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENT All F-1 students must be enrolled full-time each session and attend classes on a regular basis. If you have any visa or immigration questions, please contact the ALI Immigration/Admissions Advisor at ali@mail.sdsu.edu ALI CONTACT INFORMATION If you have any questions, please contact: American Language Institute San Diego State University San Diego, CA USA Tel: Fax: ali@mail.sdsu.edu (Version /LO) If you do not have health insurance coverage from your home country, International Student Health Insurance is available at Registration. Fees vary depending on the length of program. Students must purchase insurance to cover the entire time of study at ALI.

9 PRE-ARRIVAL CHECK LIST American Language Institute San Diego State University, San Diego, CA USA Tel: Fax: Place a check in the box when completed! CHECK YOUR FORM I-20 Make sure your personal information is correct in Section #1 of your I-20. Contact the ALI immediately if you need a correction. PAY THE $100 SEVIS FEE This fee can be paid via Internet or by mail. For faster processing, please pay online at Keep the Form I-797 receipt in a safe place. SCHEDULE A VISA APPOINTMENT AT THE U.S. EMBASSY OR CONSULATE. Each embassy or consulate may have different procedures. Please contact them directly or visit their Web site. A list of U.S. embassies and consulates is available at GATHER ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS FOR THE VISA INTERVIEW Current passport with visa Form I-20 Form I-797 (Receipt for paying SEVIS fee) Financial statement from you or sponsor CONTACT THE ALI HOUSING OFFICE IF YOU HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR HOUSING Apply for on-campus dormitories, on-campus apartments, or homestay at least 4-6 weeks before program start date. lyons@mail.sdsu.edu or call if you have any questions. READ THE ALI PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION PACKET This includes helpful information for planning your arrival in the United States. CONTACT THE ALI IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ali@mail.sdsu.edu Telephone: Web Site:

10 Legend 1. Gateway Center 2. KPBS-TV 3. Extended Studies Center 4. Parking Structure II Parking permits are always required. Faculty and staff all levels. Special permit all levels. Handicapped accessible on level one. Visitor parking 4:30 pm-1 am permits are available for $1/hour after 4:30 pm. 5. Parking Lot Q Visitor parking only permits are available for $1/hour. No parking 1-6 am. 6. Parking Structure V Parking permits are always required. Faculty and staff level two. Handicapped accessible on level one & two. Visitor/student parking levels one & two permits are available for $1/hour. Night permits required 1-6 am. 7. Public Parking Five Star Parking, Visa and Mastercard accepted. $2/hour, no maximum. 8. Public Parking Five Star Parking, Visa and Mastercard accepted. $2/hour, no maximum. 9. Public Parking Five Star Parking, Visa and Mastercard accepted. $1/hour, no maximum. In accordance with California state law, smoking is not permitted within 20 feet (about six meters) of any building entry. Smoking areas equipped with benches and ash cans have been provided for your convenience. Look for this icon on the map below. l N S W E American Language Institute (ALI) San Diego State University, College of Extended Studies, 5250 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA USA Ph: (619) Fax: (619) ali@mail.sdsu.edu Web: